SoccerToday NPSL Spotlight Series
Soccer News: The soccer scene has been exploding and the sport’s popularity increasing substantially. The National Premier Soccer League – NPSL for short – is the country’s largest amateur soccer league with 80 teams competing in 2016. SoccerToday’s special coverage on the this 4th Division of the U.S. Soccer pyramid, gives soccer fans a glimpse into the life of the teams.
And did you know, NPSL teams are eligible to participate in the U.S. Soccer Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and some NPSL teams have performed very well. NPSL is affiliated with both the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) and the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA).
Located in North San Diego County, a new addition to the NPSL is North County Battalion. Established in 2015, NC Battalion players have previously played for high school, college, semi-pro and pro leagues both domestically and internationally, looking to play in the NPSL as a launching pad for their careers. NC Battalion is looking to give their players every opportunity to showcase their talents while maintaining a strong sense of community.
Passionate and engaged, learn more about the North County Battalion from owner Jason Barbato.
Diane Scavuzzo: When did you decide to buy an NPSL soccer team? And Why?
Jason Barbato: I hadn’t even considered the idea was a possibility in my wildest dreams until July 2015. Professionally I am a residential realtor and some of my clients had a family member who owned a Southern California team and put me in contact with him over a mutual interest in the game. My first initial response was to come along side him and help build up his club, but he directed me to think about starting my own club as the conference here in the Southwest was in need of expansion. That person was Brandon Jantz, Owner of Temecula FC of whom I am incredibly thankful for.
Out of my desire to see a club run from top to bottom, the way I always dreamed it could be run, I decided to start my own club. There was a need in San Diego for a well organized team that facilitated a genuine supporter experience, from the ground up. A club that thought about the players experience with an NPSL team and didn’t treat them like a commodity.
Diane Scavuzzo: When did you become a soccer fan?
Jason Barbato: It started in 1994, I had the opportunity to attend the FIFA World Cup and watch the Men’s National team play at the Rose Bowl – the only time the World Cup was held in America. A coworker of mine invited me to attend a few USMNT viewing parties for the 2008 World Cup. That is when my appreciation for the game and a true passion began to develop. In 2010, I traveled to Seattle for my first MLS match and really caught the passion for the game from the supporters there.
Diane Scavuzzo: Who is your head coach and why did you select him?
Jason Barbato: Our head coach is Ryan Guy. He was selected because he has the respect of his peers, his team and his community. He has international experience and knows what it takes to come from this community to play abroad. That is very valuable for the players on our team and for the kind of players we attract.
Diane Scavuzzo: Do you feel that NPSL is doing a good job with the challenges of amateur/pro men’s soccer?
Jason Barbato: I think that the NPSL is facilitating a great need in the soccer community and should get a little more respect than they receive. I think that we have a geographically massive country and the NPSL is trying to address that on a level that no other league in soccer is really approaching. It takes guts to primarily work in smaller markets and build something from nothing. There is a true entrepreneurship that the NPSL offers.
Diane Scavuzzo: Is your conference in need of more NPSL competition? How would you like to see the NPSL expand?
Jason Barbato: I think that we may be in need of possibly one more team in the San Diego County region, perhaps to the south. I would also like to see a team in Orange County pop up. I think the conference would do well with 10 teams, currently we have 7.
Diane Scavuzzo: What do you think about European style promotion and relegation in the USA?
Jason Barbato: The U.S. market is not ready for it, yet. Stability (attendance) and travel are two of the biggest hurdles I believe for the pro/rel argument. Half of the problem is only millionaires can purchase high level clubs and lower level clubs can’t get there unless they sell their clubs to millionaires. I think on a smaller scale pro/rel could work (again pointing out to how big our country is in comparison to other top leagues with pro/rel) but when you throw in the dynamics of the MLS and the collegiate system it becomes a very tangled ball of yarn. There is no good solution to the current system we have in place, other than to keep it the way it is, which isn’t working for those outside the top league.
Traditional American sports fans have grown accustomed to seeing last place teams have little recourse and then be graced with a top draft pick to bring them up from the dregs of the standings. Perhaps the lower divisions of U.S. Soccer need to be the ones to take the bull by the horns and start it. I think that would be a big step for the conversation.
Diane Scavuzzo: What team do you believe does the best at promoting the game?
Jason Barbato: That’s one of the things I really enjoy about the NPSL, there isn’t a formula. Every market is different, every club has their own approach, some work, some fail, some continue on.
Diane Scavuzzo: Who do you believe will be your biggest rival? What do you think of the competition in San Diego?
Jason Barbato: Our rival will naturally be the NPSL team to the south of us, Albion SC Pros. The competition in San Diego will remain strong — the NPSL Southwest conference will be stronger than most will expect and no opponent should be taken lightly.
Diane Scavuzzo: What are your goals for 2016?
Jason Barbato: Our goals are to have an entertaining inaugural season, huge level of engagement with our supporters, community, and partnering organizations. We aim to win our conference knowing that we have the players who have been there before and know what it takes to get back there. It’s playoffs or bust for us. The Southwest has not won a playoff game against the teams from the Golden Gate conference and we are looking to change that.
The Battalion kick off their inaugural season this Saturday at 6pm against SoCal SC at San Gorgonio High School Stadium